Lily POVI stared at my phone screen, my thumb hovering over Lucas’s latest message. It has become a familiar scene over the past few weeks.At first, the messages would come twice a week, but these days, they were becoming more insistent. Waking up with a text from him was fast becoming normal and scary.“Saw someone wearing that perfume you used to love. Made me think of all those nights at our secret hideouts in the forest. Remember?”I did remember and that was the problem. I remembered everything: the good times we shared and then the ugly ending that had left me piecing myself back together. Now, here I was, finally happy with Kai and Lucas’s messages kept appearing like ghosts in my inbox.My phone buzzed again:“I know you’re reading these, Lily. The little read receipts don’t lie.”I cursed under my breath, trembling as I tried to turn off my read receipts in the chat’s settings. This had been his pattern lately – starting with nostalgia, then getting increasingly pushy when
Lucas POVThe meeting hall of the Royal Hunter Pack buzzed with tension as representatives from various packs filed in. The afternoon sun filtered through the high windows, casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor.I stood near the entrance of the meeting hall, my eyes scanning the faces of some of the young women in Kai’s pack bringing refreshments into the hall. She has stopped reading my messages or rather, it stopped getting delivered for over a week now.Despite all my efforts to reach out to her with other numbers, it still wasn’t connecting making me realize that she might have changed her number. Today we were meeting in Kai’s pack… all the werewolf packs in the region to tackle the growing vampire and rogue issue.A few days ago, Moon Star pack was attacked, but for reinforcements from Kai’s pack, No one would have survived. But all of that wasn’t my problem… I was looking for a way to meet with Lily without seeming obvious.Since the meeting was about to start,
Kai POVI was talking to Alpha Rodriguez about renewing our territory agreements when, from the corner of my eyes, I spotted Lucas and Lily talking on the other side of the room. Despite all efforts made by me to concentrate on the conversation, my attention kept drifting towards them.I picked up Lily’s soft voice followed by what Lucas was saying to her – though I didn’t hear it clearly, I saw her smile making me clench my jaw involuntarily.“…and I know this might be too late but is there a chance I could join the coalition for external exports? I declined back then because we had lots of financial issues in our pack but now we are back on track at least,” Alpha Rodriguez was saying.I nodded listlessly, my gaze going back to them. Lucas casually touched Lily’s arms, letting his hand linger longer than necessary. Hud growled with annoyance, I gritted my teeth, holding on to the last shred of my sanity, the only thing that was stopping me from crossing the room at this moment and ya
Kai POVFrom the rearview mirror, I watched Briella's silver car creeping along the street at a measured pace with three cars between her and my car.I had caught a glimpse of her a while ago gripping the steering wheel until her knuckles turned white. Beside her, I had seen Kevin, my cousin. They’ve been following me for nearly thirty minutes.At first, I had thought it was a coincidence but after stopping at the supermarket, pretending I wanted something and seeing them following me to park three spaces away from me, I knew I was being tailed.My enhanced senses had picked up Briella’s distinct scent and the sound of her engine from when I had first spotted them. I was on my way to Celeste’s place for dinner with my grandparents and after that go visit Lily. With her hectic school workload, she wanted to make sure she finished up with some of it today so we could have the entire weekend to ourselves.My grandmother had invited both of us but Lily had declined at the dying minute bec
Briella POVMy frustration has been building for weeks.Since that night I followed Kai to his sister’s place hoping to find something incriminating against him, I’ve found nothing. It was either he was careful and must have discovered that I’d been tailing him or it had all been in my imagination and he wasn't doing anything.It was worse that I couldn’t sleep or function or do any of the things I loved to do because I knew something was wrong with him. Not only had he been avoiding me for weeks, he was always busy and every time, it was the same excuses. ‘Pack business’ or ‘territory issues’ And now I’ve been hearing whispers that he was always with someone.The women at his office had been gossiping about it for a while, using it as a way to insult me subtly. I had my suspicions but I needed to confirm. Given Kai’s upbringing, he didn’t seem to me like someone who would settle for someone like Lily.But, I noticed something recently, Kai was always disappearing every dawn and would
Helen POVSleep left my eyes as soon as the call ended.Quickly, I reached for my glasses on the nightstand table and put them on, going straight to my chat with Briella. I nearly threw my phone away with what I saw. Several pictures of Kai kissing a girl that didn’t look familiar to me. There was also a video and after watching the video, it didn’t seem like he was having a fling with the girl in question.I took a deep breath, trying not to get angrier than I already had. I worked so hard to secure the alliance between our packs, put up with a lot, I won’t sit back and do nothing. I dialled Briella’s number, it rang but she didn’t answer when I tried calling the second time, it was switched off.That spoiled brat – she sounded as if she was going to cry on the phone.Sighing, I called Kai… but no response. I even tried to send a mindlink but he was too busy. I shuddered at the image of my son having sex with the woman, shaking my head to clear it off. I stared at my contacts, wonder
Helen POVMy son stood before me radiating his Alpha dominance as he broke the news to me. This would be the second time today that I would hear that my son has a mate.“Mate?” I sighed. “You cannot be so sure, Kai. Maybe there was something about her that triggered you into believing that.”He didn’t answer me and his silence confirmed everything. After he didn’t get his mate when he got his wolf and became a full-fledged adult, I stopped worrying about him finding one but to think that his mate had been in plain sight.“Kai,” I began again, trying to sound reasonable. “We need to talk about this.”He didn’t look at me. “There’s nothing to discuss, Mom.”My lips tightened with frustration as I rose to my feet too, marching up to where he stood. “There’s everything to discuss. I know about Lily, I found out everything about hr and I was hoping that you would deny it even a bit, but to think you brazenly announced her as your mate…. when I know she hasn’t made a decision yet about acce
Kai POVAfter meeting with Lily this morning, a tradition that was fast becoming a habit, I was sure that I was going to have a good day when I got a call from Celeste.Our mother has just left her house and in her own words, she ferreted information from her. If there was something my mom was good at, it was getting information from anyone and Celeste because of her beliefs doesn’t know how to lie.She had sounded so frantic and was begging me to forgive her. To an extent, I was glad that the cat had been let out of the bag and I was surprised that my mom was not acting how I thought she would If anything she didn’t call or send several messages like she would in normal circumstances like this.So, when I got home and saw her sitting in the living room – she rarely comes to this side of the pack house – I didn’t need to be told twice. As I turned to go to my room, she grabbed my arm pulling me back to her.“Fine, give Briella a chance. Go out with her on multiple dates, if you still
Lucas POVI sat in my study, nursing a glass of whisky as a storm brewed in my mind.The revelation that Lily wasn’t Alpha Gregory’s biological daughter had changed everything. It explained so much—the coldness she had endured, the scorn from certain members of the pack, the maltreatment from both her father and her sister. It all made sense now.I clenched my jaw, the glass trembling slightly in my grip.No wonder he had been determined to drive her out of the pack in the middle of the night with nothing but an old rickety car. Alpha Gregory, the man who had raised her, who had pretended to be her father, had been behind it all.My wolf snarled beneath my skin. How many times had Lily cried herself to sleep, believing she wasn’t good enough? How many times she had endured the pack’s whispers, the subtle jabs that she killed her mother and the not-so-subtle exclusion?I set my glass down, leaning back in my chair as a grim determination settled over me. I had failed to protect Lily in
Lily POVI flinched at the words but I held my tongue.“You’re not the mate I would have chosen for my son,” she continued coldly. “But Kai made his choice, and as much as I disagree, I have to respect it.”I swallowed hard, my heart sinking further with every word. I thought the learning sessions with her occasionally meant we were bonding. Guess I was wrong.“Luna Helen, I-”“Don’t,” she raised her hand, stopping me mid-sentence. “I’m not here to scold you. I’m here to warn you.”The air in the car seemed to grow thicker.“But before I do that,” she continued lowering her voice as if she wanted to tell me a secret, “this situation with the she-wolf is different. It’s dangerous. Well, the woman is not dangerous in the way you might think, but dangerous.”My brows knitted in confusion. “Dangerous? How?”Luna Helen’s expression darkened. “You don’t understand the influence someone like her can have over an Alpha. A connection—whether from the past or something more recent – can disrupt
Lily POV“I’m sorry to interrupt,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. “But I need to talk to Kai.”Luna Helen pursed her lips, but she gave a stiff nod. “We’re not finished here,” she said to Kai before turning and walking away, her heels clicking against the polished floor. As soon as we were alone, Kai sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. He looked exhausted, shadows under his eyes, and tension etched into every line of his face.“What are you doing here, Lily?” he asked. His tone was not unkind but distant.I stepped closer, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. “I could ask you the same thing. You’ve been avoiding me for days, Kai. If it’s not this hospital, it’s somewhere else. What’s going on, Kai? What about us? Who is she, truly?”His expression hardened and his gaze drifted to the almost lifeless form of the woman lying on the bed, then back at me. Suddenly, he stirred me towards the door, taking one last glance as we closed
LilyI took Celeste’s advice.My heart pounded as I made my way to the pack hospital. The air was crisp, and the faint scent of pine mingled with the distant sound of chirping birds returning home to their nests for the evening, but none of it eased my nerves.I could hardly sleep last night, going over Kai’s distant behaviour, replaying every word, every moment where he had ignored me, and it was driving me mad.It was not just about the mysterious she-wolf anymore, but about Kai shutting me out completely. I feared the growing distance between us would become insurmountable if I didn’t confront him now.But today, I could confront him.When I reached the hospital, I continued to the VIP floor. The VIP floor was a world of its own. It was quiet, exclusive, and reserved for only members of the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma families. I had been here before, but today felt different.As the elevator stopped and I stepped onto the floor, squaring my shoulders, preparing myself for whatever lay
Lucas POVSince our mating ceremony, I didn’t only gain Vanessa’s trust but also the pack’s respect.The grand hall of the Golden Moon Pack shimmered with opulence, with crystal chandeliers casting soft, golden light across the gathering. Tonight, it was a celebration of the annual Moonlight Gala, the most prestigious event in our social calendar every year.I stood beside Vanessa, my arm loosely draped around her waist. She looked stunning in a deep emerald gown that clung to her curves, her radiant smile drawing attention from everyone in the hall. This would be our first appearance as mates since our ceremony.The gala celebrated the pack’s achievements for the year. Speeches were made, and awards were distributed. Aside from that, this would be a perfect opportunity to begin my plan. I wanted the pack for myself.I was tired of waiting for Alpha Gregory Stone—Vanessa’s father- to die or willingly retire before he handed over the reins of the pack to me entirely. I wanted to be in
Lily POVThat evening, I walked towards the Pack Hospital. Each step felt like walking on hot coal. I wasn't sure what I would find there or what I even wanted to say, but I needed answers.I was sure it was just the maids gossiping, as usual. I was sure it wasn't Kai, but somehow, for the sake of all the doubts running around my head, I needed to clear them.The pack hospital was quiet as I approached. Using the signs, I took the elevator to the VIP floor until I stopped at the door that read 'Alpha'. Steeling myself, I moved closer to the door, wondering if knocking would be a better option or something else.Just as I contemplated, the door swivelled open, and a team of healers and nurses stepped out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Thankful for the quick fix, I moved closer and peeked in.Kai was sitting beside the bed of the injured she-wolf. His shoulders were sagged as if the world's weight was on him. He stared intently at her as if his gaze were her oxygen. The sh
Lily POVThe day passed in a blur.I attended all my classes, barely able to concentrate as my thoughts kept drifting back to Kai. I replayed our last few interactions from a week ago, searching for clues or signs I might have missed.But there was none.So, what was the problem?After my last class, I rushed to the pack house, determined to wait for Kai. I won’t let his distance or silence push me away. If he needed time, I would give it to him, but I needed to hear the words from his mouth—I deserve that honesty, at least.I waited all afternoon for him, but he didn’t come home. Suspecting he was held up at the office, I decided to work on my school project.By evening, there was still no sign of him. I busied myself with inconsequential tasks around the house, hoping he’d come home soon.I opened several gift boxes sent to Kai… Some were already a year old. I reheated dinner—I didn’t eat yet; I wanted us to eat together and in my mind; I kept rehearsing everything I would say to hi
Lily POVI paced the length of the living room in the pack house, my mind replaying everything that had happened that day.Kai’s cold dismissal at the hospital had stung more than I wanted to admit. I’d come to his side out of concern, but he’d pushed me away as though I was some stranger.I had left out of anger and the plan was to go back to my dormitory and never bother myself with him again until he reached out, but here; I was still waiting for him. I made some food for him, hoping he would come back any moment soon.But after 9 pm, I was growing worried.It was well past midnight when I heard the front door creak open, announcing his arrival. I froze where I sat on the couch in the living room, my heart racing with fear and anger. Deciding I would approach calmly and reasonably. I had to address what happened today.As he stepped into the living room, I rose to my feet, watching as he paused slightly; his face was pale and weary, dark circles shadowing his features. His shirt w
Kai POVI cradled the lady in my arms, gazing at her. This was definitely the face of the woman I’d been seeing in my visions. The eyes, the nose, the lips, everything about her was familiar.I felt a close affinity with her, even though everything was just so mysterious. But at least, I knew her name—Maya, and that was something.A while later, the ambulance arrived and the Para-healers that had come with it gave her first aid, after which they strapped her onto a stretcher and loaded her behind the van.“She’ll be fine, Alpha,” one of the Para-healers said assuring. “Her vitals are good, although she has loosed a lot of blood, but she’ll be fine. We’ll take her to the pack hospital immediately.”I nodded. “Thank you so much for coming at such short notice.”“No problem, Alpha. I’ll give you feedback on how everything goes from here on.”“You don’t need to do that,” I brushed past him, hoisting myself to the back of the ambulance “Because I’m going with you to the hospital.”The Para